It seems really hard to believe, considering the quality of some of their hitters and pitchers, but it’s an undeniable reality at this point: the Los Angeles Angels are very bad at baseball.
The team has lost eight of their last 10 games and owns a horrible 40-56 record, especially disappointing considering the expectations tied to them.
Before the season, the Angels made a concerted effort to improve one of the weaknesses that had plagued them for years: the pitching staff.
They brought in Noah Syndergaard, Michael Lorenzen, Ryan Tepera, Aaron Loup, and others; and had two quality young hurlers in Reid Detmers and Patrick Sandoval.
The offense was supposed to be a strength, headlined by Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani but also with 2021 breakout star Jared Walsh, former World Series hero Anthony Rendon, and other good pieces.
The result?
Nothing but bitter disappointment.
The Oakland Athletics are actually just 5.5 games behind the Angels in the standings, so if LA keeps playing this badly, there is a good chance they finish the year as the last-place squad in the AL West.
A Humiliating Season
The A’s traded all of their valuable assets before the season and are in clear rebuild mode, so that would be humiliating.
“Angels on pace for 95 losses. Club record: 95 losses. Angels in July: 3-15. Team batting average in July: .194. Team ERA in July: 5.11,” reporter Bill Shaikin tweeted.
Angels on pace for 95 losses. Club record: 95 losses.
Angels in July: 3-15.
Team batting average in July: .194.
Team ERA in July: 5.11.— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 26, 2022
How can a team that has both Ohtani AND Trout be so bad?
It’s baffling, and no one gets it.
Not even the Angels.
But they are, and there likely won’t be postseason baseball for the Angels for yet another year.
They haven’t made the playoffs since 2014.
It appears the drought will be extended.
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